An unidentified militia group in war-torn Libya reportedly abducted a Kozhikode-based IT professional from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Regi Joseph is suspected to be abducted by the anti-government militia group on 31 March from his workplace at Souk al Jumaa near Tripoli. Three other Libyan nationals were also abducted along with him.
At the time, Regi (an infrastructure engineer in Al Diwan Company) was tasked to create a national citizen database for the Civilian Registration Authority (CRA). The rebel forces had tried to hack into CRA’s servers a month before.
“Regi has been missing since March 31. When contacted, company authorities said he and three others were abducted by an extremist rebel group,” the engineer’s brother Jojo Joseph said to the Times of India (TOI). He also added that the firm had cautioned the family to keep the information confidential as it would secure his release.
“On Sunday the company authorities said the rebels were questioning him. We have not been able to confirm if he is safe,” said Jojo.
Regi and his wife Shinuja, who works as a nurse in the TMC Hospital in the capital, were residents of Tripoli for nearly two years.
“Regi had messaged his wife on March 31 saying that he would be late from work. That was the last contact he had made,” Jojo said according to TOI.
Regi’s father Pulluvelil Joseph said his daughter-in-law has sought the Indian Embassy’s help to secure his release.
M K Raghavan, member of parliament, according to TOI said that he has involved chief minister Oommen Chandy and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in the matter.
